Fashions and Furbelows

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17890, 5 July 1926, Page 11

Fashions and Furbelows

NOTES BY SPECIAL CONTRIBUTORS.

CLEANING COPPER. Dd you know that Worcester Sauce makes an excellent metal polish for copper. My small kettle never shines so brightly as when I have given it a rub with a tiny piece of woollen rag, soaked in the sauce, and aftrewards polished it up with a couple of clean, warm dusters. That is a point to notice when cleaning any metal. The object will develop a much better shine if the dusters used for polishing have been in the oven or before a fire for a few minutes. A PARASOL NOTE. The latest design for parasols is the silhouette. Picture a perfectly plain sunshade, of the Japanese type as to shape, with black tassels hanging from the points all round. On the top of the sunshade is painted a silhouette design in black of some bizarre and Oriental description. The sunshade itself is plain yellow or white, and the handle is either black or of the self-colour. The effect is highly diverting and original, but of course from its very nature. it will be a sunshade for the few rather than the many. ARRANGING FLOWERS. Very often a single blossom prettily arranged—-or pterhaps two —with natural foliage, will prove far more attractive than a whole armful. But it is sometimes difficult to know how to make them Stand. . The glass holders usually sold lor the purpose may need a number ot flowers to balance them; they have holes too large to grip a single flower firmly, or they may be awkward to fit into a quaintly-shaped jug- But with a small strip of soft lead, an

excellent holder may be made which can be adapted to hold cither thick or thin stems firmly, or twisted to fit into any shaped bowl or vase. Any plumber would supply this lead for a few pence, and the holder is then simply made v.by bending the strip backwards and forwards. concertina style, until it forms a number of tiny loops, which can then be opened or closed as required. The lead should be about two inches deep to give the firmest results.

For earthenware pitchers, or any of the cottage pottery which is inclined to be porous, a thin coating of glue over the inside base will prove an excellent means of waterproofing; only the china should be left to stand for at least a week before using.

Flowers such as lilac, with hard, dry stems, will live very much longer if each stem is cut slantingly, and then split upwards for four or live inches. Bulb flowers with thick, sappy stems, such as tulips or hyacinths, which are inclined to droop and be top-heavy after a very short time, should have starch added to the water. And they will remain fresh far longer in a bowl to themselves, and not mixed with other blsosoms. All flowers should have their stems cut an inch shorter when they are first bought, and should be put into warm watre—-not cold—with a generous teaspoonful of table salt added. If they are inclined to droop, they can be revived by dissolving an aspirin tablet in their w’ater. A small lump of charcoal kept in the bowl will help flowers to keep fresh for a week or more, and will prevent any unpleasant smell rising from the water. Mousseline de soie is as fashionable a material as any now existing. It allows of the posing of one or two shades of colour over each other, with charming effect. The blouse of the past has become the jumper, and taken on a new and apparently unending lease of life. Which does not prevent the said jumper from taking on constant variety of form.